Working on a wiki night 1

Took my fist stab at working on a wiki. When I started this evening the wiki looked as follows:

Some points to start from if you are thinking of AcademicWriting: A Discussion

What exactly is AcademicWriting, and what makes it different from other types of writing?

All types of writing are defined by the conventions of the community in which they exist. Academic writing is writing produced in academia. So, it is writing that is formed with the conventions and values of academia. Essentially, it is what determines whether or not writing is academic writing in both the original purpose of the writer and the acceptance of the product by the academic community.

In general terms academic writing is usually expected to be precise, semi-formal, impersonal, and objective.

Is what we’re doing on this wiki a form of AcademicWriting, or is it something else?

Under the definition created above, this wiki would be considered academic writing because it is produced for an academic purpose and because it is accepted by at least part of the academic community. However, just because it can be considered academic writing does not mean that it can’t also be considered something else as well.Are Wikis, or Blogs for that matter, tools for AcademicWriting, and how so?

I’m still thinking about how to answer these questions, if at all. Saw an unlinked page and thought I’d see where it could lead.BerneChristiansen

In general terms academic writing is usually expected to be precise, semi-formal, impersonal, and objective. Academic writing is a learned process. That is a traditional sense of the term academic writing.
Is academic writing just one style or method?
The term could be general or become more specific. AcademicReserchWriting could be one specific form of academic writing for example. It could also come in different genres and forms. There may not be one specific definition of academic writing. Each context, genre, or form will have its own definition.DelanaSmith

Oh boy. This topic scares me. For in order to understand what AcademicWriting is, we must first determine what the word “academic” actually means.

That scares me because my grandfather, who is truly an EducatedMan (naturally, another topic of discussion), has been trying for years to try to teach me what “academic” means. And, of course, he’s not the kind of guy who will actually come out and just TELL me what it means. I have to figure it out.

So I’ve spent two and a half years at this institution trying to get a handle on “academia.” (Although he now says that because I’ve completed my liberal education, I am no longer a part of academia. And I’m beginning to understand what he means. Except not really.)

If any one out there seems to have a better grasp on the word than I do, write down your thoughts. But don’t try to trick me by writing some long essay with a lot of “academic” sounding words, cause I can tell the difference.

No. I’m looking for a simple definition. Something you could say in a sentence or two.

: The problem here is that we haven’t got a topic, only a subject. Someone fork a topic here: AcademicWritingOnAWiki, maybe.

Ooh… tough definition.

I want to say that academic writing is writing that shares knowledge… but isn’t that what all writing does? Poetry shares a type of knowledge, usually knowledge of a greater truth, but that doesn’t make it academic.

You could go the easy route and say that academic writing is simply writing that takes place in academia… but that’s not very helpful now, is it?

So far, the best definition I can come up with is that academic writing shares information, things that could be learned by performing an experiment or study or analysis of some sort. That seems to fit with most “academic writing” I’ve encountered… but I have the feeling that this definition only covers what is necessary, not what is sufficient to call something academic writing.

Is what we’re doing on this wiki a form of AcademicWriting, or is it something else?
The answer is yes, in most cases what we are doing on this wiki is academic writing.
Would you ask this question?
Is what we’re doing on a typewriter a form of academic writing, or is it something else?
Wikis are tools, just like typewriters, the resulting content is what gets judged.

Are Wikis, or Blogs for that matter, tools for AcademicWriting, and how so?
Without question Wikis and Blogs are useful tools for academic writing.
The how so, should be the fun part. I will start an answer on AcademicWritingOnAWiki

(Mind you, my comment comes from considering Academic essays and research papers, not necessarily creative works.) I believe the term Academic Writing implies that there is usually some credentials tied to the writing, or some facts to back said writers opinion up. Usually there isn’t much to dictate who gets to add to a wiki and how correct that information is. So I view the wiki as more of a internet tool for freedom. People can do so much with a wiki, the choices sometimes seem endless. This however should still be taken with a grain of salt because, after all, how can someone be sure the information is right?

NO, even if the idea of writing for a grade can kill inspiration there is no reason to worry. If you are a little worried it helps to ask the instructor who is wanting the writing what they are looking for in the paper. They will either have addressed to the class what they are looking for, given a handout with the specifics or have posted the information on your schools online class management page (D2L for example). Follow the criteria and things will go smoothly. On the chance that you are still a little nervous, and you know about the paper ahead of time, PlanAhead.

Is what we’re doing on this wiki a form of AcademicWriting, or is it something else?

Under the definition created above, this wiki would be considered academic writing because it is produced for an academic purpose. This wiki will also accepted by at least part of the academic community. However, just because it can be considered academic writing does not mean that it can’t also be considered something else as well. This wiki is the testing ground of curently three students participating in a class geared towards the better understanding of weblogs and wikis. That being said it could be considered a playground where these students can test what they have learned.

Before you stress yourself out, take a deep breath. Writing a paper for school isn’t as hard as you think.

More than likely your teacher has already given you all the information you need on the mechanics of the paper. The hard part is getting organized.

Work to your Strengths
Now, I’m not encouraging you to procrastinate, but if you work better under pressure use that to your advantage. However be smart about it.

Personal tip #1 Create your own earlier deadline If working under a deadline boosts creativity, create your own personal dead line. Say the paper is due three weeks from when its assigned, make it your personal goal to have the paper rough drafted, beta read, and finished a week before its due. This also allows a cushion for the days that you just don’t feel like working on it.

Personal tip #2 Use an organization method you’re comfortable with There will be times that the teach will require an outline or some form of paper planning proof. To that all you can do is “like it and lump it.” If by chance that isn’t the case, use what works best for you. If outlines are your thing, do that. If you build your paper as you are working on it, have at it. But what if you don’t have a method? Try BuildingAnOutline to see a sample outline and proper formatting.

Personal tip #3 Find the perfect environment Everyone has a different way that lets them get the most done. Some can concentrate with the TV going, Itunes playing and two people talking. Others need the solitude of a quit room with the room comfortably dim and work by the light of a desk lamp. Habits built up from previous school years will help you know what works best for you.